Bottle case



J. F. MAURER, JR 2,034,439

BOTTLE CASE Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. m

ATTORNEYS March 17, 1936. J. F, MAURER, JR 2,034,439

BOTTLE CASE Filed May 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /3 F/G: 3. A; /6 7 IN VENTOR. Jonw F/WI RER, JR;

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle cases and refers more particularly to metallic protective means for the lower edges and corners of cases having vertical walls constructed of wood.

It is a well established fact that the lower edges of the vertical walls of such cases are subjected to the greatest wear and while metal strips or runners have been applied in various ways to the lower edges of the vertical walls, heretofore they have always been secured to the walls by permanent fastening means such as nails, screws, rivets and the like which not only entails considerable time and labor in their application, but precludes the practical disassembly thereof when repairs to the crate are required.

The instant invention provides metallic protective elements for the lower edges of the vertical walls of the case, which are retained in place by slidably engaged pin and notch or slot connections, thereby effecting an economy in the amount of time and labor for assembling the same with the case, and facilitating their disassembly and reassembly when the case is repaired.

More specifically the invention resides in the provision of cross sectio'nally channel-shaped metallic protective elements which embrace and completely cover the lower edges of the inner and outer surfaces of the vertical walls adjacent said lower edges, thereby not only protecting the same but materially increasing the strength of the case structure at and in the region of the bottom thereof.

The invention further embodies angulated metallic corner units for protecting the corners of the vertical walls which units are provided with outwardly o'ifset lower ends covering the notched ends of the lower edge protective elements and which offset lower ends have inwardly directed pins with which the notched ends of said elements are engaged, the construction and arrangement being such that the elements for protecting the lower edges of the corners may be assembled by sliding engagement of the parts with each o'ther.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of metallic protective means of the indicated character which are simple in their construction and mode of assembly, inexpensive to produce and highly efficient for their intended purpose.

With the above recited objects and advantages in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which there is set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, while the appended claims cover variations and modifications falling within the scope and spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a bottle case constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same with a part shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale of one of the lower edge protective members.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of a lower corner of the case illustrating the interfitting of the lower protective elements with a corner protective element.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, I and H designate respectively the vertical side and end walls of the case structure which are preferably of wood, either of a single panel or a slatted construction as shown. The vertical walls may be secured together in any desired manner and the corners thereof are covered by metallic corner units l2 having angularly related leaves l3 and I4. The lower ends l of the leaves of the corner units are offset outwardly to provide a space between the inner surfaces thereof and the vertical walls It! and II for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth.

In order to provide means for protecting the lower edges of the vertical walls, metallic runners, designated generally by the reference characters iii, are utilized which, in the present disclosure, consist of channel members having a bottom web IT and inner and outer vertical flanges l8 and It, the latter outer flanges 19 being of a considerably greater height than the inner flanges l8 and extending upwardly a distance corresponding to the spacing of the upper edge of the offset ends I5 of the corner units l2 from the lower edges of the vertical walls. The opposite ends of the outer vertical flanges ii! are adapted to be positioned within the space defined between the offset ends l5 of the corner units and are provided with horizontal notches 20 extending inwardly from the end edges for slidable engagement with inwardly projecting pins 2!. In the present instance the pins 2! are disclosed as rivets extending through the offset ends l5, through the notched ends 22 of the vertical walls and through inner angle members 23 located within the case body at the corners thereof.

The opposite ends of the webs I! are mitered as at 24 to interfit w th each other and p d l a smooth protective covering for the lower edges of the case.

In order to prevent sagging of the runners l6, which are applied to the longer vertical side walls ID, the outer flange i9 is formed with a key hole slot 25 which is slidably engaged with a headed element 26 coincident with the sliding engagement of one of the notched ends 20 with the inwardly projecting pin 2|.

In the form of the case disclosed, which is provided with bottle supporting rods 30 which extend through the Vertical end walls II and are provided with rivet heads 3|, the vertical outer flanges [9 of the runners I6 are apertured to receive the rods 30. In disassembling the case for repair, the rods 30 are cut adjacent the inner surface of one end wall and the cut sections of the rods are removed thereby releasing the runners simultaneously with the release of the case walls.

As illustrated, the webs I! and outer flanges 19 of the metallic runners I6 are provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 32 for draining off water and permitting of the drying out of the portions of the vertical walls encased, thereby to prevent rotting of the Wood.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle case including vertical walls, metallic corner units comprising angularly related leaves respectively overlying the ends of adjacent vertical walls, said leaves having their lower ends offset outwardly, metallic channel members fitted over the bottom edges of the vertical walls with the opposite ends thereof extending between the offset lower ends of the leaves and the vertical walls, vand means for removably securing said channel members in place consisting of end portions having notches extending longitudinally and fastening elements extending inwardly from the ofiset ends, said notched end portions and fastening elements being engageable and disengageable by sliding movement of the channel members in the direction of the length of the notches.

2. A bottle case including vertical walls, metallic corner units overlying and releasably joining the ends of adjacent walls, said units having angularly related leaves formed with outwardly offset lower ends, metallic channel members fitted over the bottom edges of the vertical walls and comprising a bottom web and inner and outer flanges, and means for releasably securing said channel members in assembled relation including inwardly directed studs on the offset lower ends of the leaves of the corner units and longitudinally notched portions at the opposite ends of the outer flanges of the channel members adapted to underlie the offset lower ends of the leaves and engageable with and disengageable from the studs by relative movement between the channel members and corner units in the direction of the length of the notched stud portions of the channel members.

JOHN F. MAURER, JR. 

